And in your search spend your adventurous worth; You shall like diamonds sit about his crown. 1 Lord. To wisdom he's a fool that will not yield; And, since lord Helicane enjoineth us, We with our travels will endeavor it. Hel. Then you love us, we you, and we'll clasp hands; When peers thus knit, a kingdom ever stands. [Exeunt. SCENE V. Pentapolis. A Room in the Palace. Enter SIMONIDES, reading a letter; the Knights meet him. 1 Knight. Good morrow to the good Simonides. Sim. Knights, from my daughter this I let you know, That for this twelvemonth, she'll not undertake A married life. Her reason to herself is only known, get. 2 Knight. May we not get access to her, my lord? Sim. Faith, by no means; she hath so strictly tied her To her chamber, that it is impossible. One twelve moons more she'll wear Diana's livery; And on her virgin honor will not break it. 3 Knight. Though loath to bid farewell, we take our leaves. Sim. So, [Exeunt. They're well despatched; now to my daughter's letter. Mistress, 'tis well; your choice agrees with mine; Well, I commend her choice; And will no longer have it be delayed. Soft, here he comes;-I must dissemble it. Enter PERICLES. Per. All fortune to the good Simonides! Sim. To you as much, sir! I am beholden to you, For your sweet music this last night. My ears, I do protest, were never better fed With such delightful, pleasing harmony. Per. It is your grace's pleasure to commend; Not my desert. Sim. Sir, you are music's master. Per. The worst of all her scholars, my good lord. Sim. Let me ask one thing. What do you think, sir, of My daughter? Per. As of a most virtuous princess. Per. As a fair day in summer; wondrous fair. Sim. She thinks not so; peruse this writing else. A letter that she loves the knight of Tyre! 'Tis the king's subtlety to have my life. O, seek not to entrap, my gracious lord, A stranger, and distressed gentleman, [Aside. That never aimed so high, to love your daughter, Sim. Thou hast bewitched my daughter, and thou A villain. Per. art By the gods, I have not, sir. Never did thought of mine levy offence; Nor never did my actions yet commence Ay, traitor, sir. Per. Even in his throat (unless it be the king) That calls me traitor, I return the lie. Sim. Now, by the gods, I do applaud his courage. [Aside. Per. My actions are as noble as my thoughts, I came unto your court for honor's cause, Here comes my daughter; she can witness it. Enter THAISA. Per. Then as you are as virtuous as fair, Who takes offence at that would make me glad. I am glad of it with all my heart. [Aside.] I'll tame you; I'll bring you in subjection. Will you, not having my consent, bestow [Aside. Hear, therefore, mistress; frame your will to mine,- Nay, come; your hands and lips must seal it too.— What, are you both pleased? Thai. Yes, if you love me, sir. Per. Even as my life, my blood that fosters it.1 Both. Yes, please your majesty. [Exeunt. ACT III. Enter Gower. Gower. Now sleep yslaked hath the rout; Dumb Show. Enter PERICLES and SIMONIDES at one door, with Attendants: a Messenger meets them, kneels, and gives PERICLES a letter. PERICLES shows it to SIMONIDES; the Lords kneel to the former. Then 1 The quarto of 1619 reads: 2 Eke out. "Even as my life or blood that fosters it." 3 The lords kneel to Pericles, because they are now, for the first time, informed by this letter, that he is king of Tyre. enter THAISA with child, and LYCHORIDA. SIMONIDES shows his daughter the letter; she rejoices; she and PERICLES take leave of her father, and depart. Then SIMONIDES, &c. retire. Gow. By many a dearn and painful perch 2 That horse, and sail, and high expense, Are letters brought; the tenor these: The crown of Tyre; but he will none. Come not home in twice six moons, He, obedient to their dooms, Will take the crown. The sum of this, Brought hither to Pentapolis, Y-ravished the regions round, And every one with claps 'gan sound. Who dreamed, who thought of such a thing? Their vessel shakes 1 1 Dearn signifies lonely, solitary. A perch is a measure of five yards and a half. 2 i. e. help, befriend, or assist the search. 3 i. e. to suppress: opprimere. |